THE TOP STORIES FROM ABC NEWS.....WORLD LEADERS HAVE MARKED THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE D-DAY LANDINGS WHICH WERE A TURNING POINT IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.THE PRIME MINISTER TONY ABBOT WAS AMONG THE DIGNITARIES WHO GATHERED AT SWORD BEACH IN NORTHERN FRANCE .... EARLIER THE PRIME MINISTER PLACED CROSSES ON THE GRAVES OF TWO OF THE 14 AUSTRALIANS KILLED IN THE HISTORIC BATTLE.AS MANY AS FOUR THOUSAND ALLIED TROOPS AND NINE THOUSAND GERMANS DIED ON ONE DAY... AS INTERNATIONAL FORCES STORMED THE COAST OF NORTHERN FRANCE ON THE SIXTH OF JUNE, 1944.

THE RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTS HAVE REPORTEDLY CALLED FOR A SPEEDY HALT TO BLOODSHED AND MILITARY ACTIONS IN EASTERN UKRAINE, AFTER A BRIEF MEETING ON THE SIDELINES OF THE D-DAY COMMEMORATIONS.IT'S THE FIRST TIME VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS MET WITH A UKRAINIAN LEADER SINCE MOSCOW ANNEXED CRIMEA IN MARCH THIS YEAR, SPARKING CLASHES BETWEEN PRO- AND ANTI-RUSSIAN ACTIVISTS.

QUEENSLAND'S DEPUTY PREMIER HAS REFERRED FEDERAL MP CLIVE PALMER TO THE CRIME AND MISCONDUCT COMMISSION .. OVER TWO YEAR OLD CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS.JEFF SEENEY SAYS IN APRIL 2012 MR PALMER TRIED TO PERSUADE THE NEWLY ELECTED NEWMAN GOVERNMENT TO HAND OVER EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO A RAILWAY LINE AND PORT IN THE GALILEE BASIN IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND.CLIVE PALMER SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS AREN'T TRUE

AND THE SOCCEROOS HAVE ONE LAST CHANCE TO IMPRESS BEFORE THE WORLD CUP.